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The spouse of the prime minister of Australia, or partner of the prime minister of Australia, is generally a high-profile individual who assists the
prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...
with ceremonial duties as well as performing various other functions. With a few exceptions, the prime minister's spouse has been a public figure and the subject of media interest. Most have used the position to promote charitable causes. By convention, the spouse of the prime minister serves as the host of The Lodge and
Kirribilli House Kirribilli House is the secondary official residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. Located in the Sydney harbourside suburb of , New South Wales, the house is at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue. It is one of two official Prime M ...
, the official residences of the prime minister, and also assists the prime minister in welcoming foreign dignitaries to Parliament House and various other locations during ceremonial events. However, the position is unpaid and there are no official responsibilities. Spouses often assist the prime minister at campaign events. However, only two prime ministers' spouses have held public office in their own right –
Enid Lyons Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (née Burnell; 9 July 1897 – 2 September 1981) was an Australian politician who was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in federal cabinet. Prior to her own political ca ...
became the first woman elected to the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
several years after her husband's death in office, while
Lucy Turnbull Lucinda Mary Turnbull Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (née Hughes; born 30 March 1958) is an Australian businesswoman, philanthropist, and former Local government in Australia, local government politician. She served on the Sydney City ...
was
Lord Mayor of Sydney The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Sydney is the head of the Council of the City of Sydney, which is the local government area covering the central business district of Sydney in the State of New South Wales, Australia. The Lord Mayor has be ...
over a decade before her husband became prime minister.
Ethel Page Ethel Esther, Lady Page (née Blunt; 20 September 1875 – 26 May 1958) was the first wife of Sir Earle Page, the 11th Prime Minister of Australia. She worked as a nurse before her marriage. Page supported her husband during his long political ...
held senior offices in the organisational wing of the Country Party. The current prime minister,
Anthony Albanese Anthony Norman Albanese ( or ; born 2 March 1963) is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2019 and the member of parlia ...
, is divorced; he has a partner,
Jodie Haydon Jodie Haydon (born 1978) is an Australian financial services professional and women's advocate. She is the partner of Anthony Albanese, the 31st and current Prime Minister of Australia since 23 May 2022. Early life and career Haydon was born ...
, who lives in her own home in Sydney. Albanese is the first divorcee to be appointed prime minister. All prime ministers except
John McEwen Sir John McEwen, (29 March 1900 – 20 November 1980) was an Australian politician who served as the 18th prime minister of Australia, holding office from 1967 to 1968 in a caretaker capacity after the disappearance of Harold Holt. He was the ...
,
Julia Gillard Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013, holding office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She is the first and only ...
and Albanese were married for the duration of their term in office. McEwen was a widower during his short term; Gillard was in a domestic partnership with
Tim Mathieson Timothy Raymond Mathieson (born 1957) is an Australian hairdresser and the former partner of Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia. He entered the public spotlight in 2006 when they became partners. Gillard was Deputy Leader of the ...
. Until relatively recently it was uncommon for the spouse of a prime minister to have their own career.
Zara Holt Dame Zara Kate Bate (; previously Fell and Holt; 10 March 190914 June 1989) was an Australian fashion entrepreneur. She was best known as the wife of Harold Holt, who was prime minister of Australia from 1966 until his disappearance in 1967. ...
, a fashion designer, was the first to continue her career during her husband's term in office, and reputedly earned more money than him. Other businesswomen to hold the position have included
Thérèse Rein Thérèse Virginia Rein (born 17 July 1958) is an Australian entrepreneur who is the founder of Ingeus, an international employment and business psychology services company. Rein is the wife of Kevin Rudd, who was the Prime Minister of Austra ...
, who ran an employment services company, and Margie Abbott, who ran a childcare centre.
Bettina Gorton Bettina Edith Gorton, Lady Gorton (née Brown; 23 June 1915 – 2 October 1983) was an American-born Australian academic who was best known as the first wife of John Gorton, the 19th Prime Minister of Australia. She was born in Portland, Maine, ...
was an academic who lectured part-time at the
Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies and ...
.


Role

The prime minister's spouse has no official duties. Some earlier spouses stayed mainly at home and took little part in public life. Although a prime minister's wife may be unofficially referred to as Australia's "
first lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...
" or "first bloke", a spouse does not receive a staff or official budget. However, most recent prime ministers' spouses have been involved in charities or community organisations, working to raise public awareness, funds, and support for a range of causes. They generally assist their partners in political campaigns, and participate in official duties that come with the position, such as hosting foreign dignitaries, and, in particular, entertaining the spouses of dignitaries; accompanying the prime ministers on national and international trips; attending conferences and functions; and speaking in public, particularly in the prime minister's constituency. They have attended the opening of Parliament; hosted visitors at The Lodge and
Kirribilli House Kirribilli House is the secondary official residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. Located in the Sydney harbourside suburb of , New South Wales, the house is at the far eastern end of Kirribilli Avenue. It is one of two official Prime M ...
; visited
Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace () is a London royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is often at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality. It ...
, the
White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. ...
, or the Japanese Imperial Palace; and been present at royal coronations and conferences. Others were initially preoccupied with rearing children, most notably Dame
Enid Lyons Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (née Burnell; 9 July 1897 – 2 September 1981) was an Australian politician who was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in federal cabinet. Prior to her own political ca ...
(1932–39), who had 12 children (one died in infancy). In 1943, four years after her husband's death in office, she was the first woman to be elected to the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
. She was a junior minister in the
Menzies Menzies is a Scottish surname, with Gaelic forms being Méinnearach and Méinn, and other variant forms being Menigees, Mennes, Mengzes, Menzeys, Mengies, and Minges. Derivation and history The name and its Gaelic form are probably derived f ...
Government from 1949 to 1951.


Official recognition

Some prime ministers' spouses have received official recognition for their services to the community: *
Flora Reid Dame Florence Ann "Flora" Reid, (née Brumby; 10 November 1867 – 1 September 1950) was the wife of Sir George Reid, the fourth Prime Minister of Australia. Early life Reid was born in Longford, Tasmania, the daughter of a farmer from ...
, Mary Cook,
Mary Hughes Dame Mary Ethel Hughes GBE (née Campbell; 6 June 18742 April 1958) was the second wife of Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923. She was the daughter of a well-to-do grazier, and grew up in country New South Wales. Sh ...
,
Enid Lyons Dame Enid Muriel Lyons (née Burnell; 9 July 1897 – 2 September 1981) was an Australian politician who was the first woman elected to the House of Representatives and the first woman to serve in federal cabinet. Prior to her own political ca ...
,
Pattie Menzies Dame Pattie Maie Menzies Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire, GBE (2 March 189930 August 1995) was the wife of Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies. Biography Menzies was born as Pattie Maie Leckie at ...
and
Zara Holt Dame Zara Kate Bate (; previously Fell and Holt; 10 March 190914 June 1989) was an Australian fashion entrepreneur. She was best known as the wife of Harold Holt, who was prime minister of Australia from 1966 until his disappearance in 1967. ...
were given
dame ''Dame'' is an honorific title and the feminine form of address for the honour of damehood in many Christian chivalric orders, as well as the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British honours system and those of several oth ...
hoods. *
Pattie Deakin Elizabeth Martha Anne "Pattie" Deakin CBE (née Browne; 1 January 1863 – 30 December 1934) was the wife of Alfred Deakin, the second Prime Minister of Australia (1903–04, 1905–08, and 1909–10). She was known for her philanthropic work. E ...
accepted the award of
Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(CBE) in 1934, to be announced in the New Year's Honours of 1935; she died two days before the announcement. *
Margaret Whitlam Margaret Elaine Whitlam, AO (née Dovey; 19 November 1919 – 17 March 2012) was an Australian social campaigner, author, and athlete. She was the wife of Gough Whitlam, the 21st Prime Minister of Australia from 1972 to 1975, and a representat ...
,
Tamie Fraser Tamara Margaret "Tamie" Fraser (née Beggs; born 28 February 1936) is the widow of Malcolm Fraser, who held office as Prime Minister of Australia between 1975 and 1983. Early life Tamara Margaret Beggs was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the ...
and
Hazel Hawke Hazel Susan Hawke, AO (née Masterson, 20 July 192923 May 2013) was the first wife of Bob Hawke, the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia. She married him in 1956, and supported him throughout his prime ministership (1983–1991); they divorced in ...
were made officers of the
Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
.
Lucy Turnbull Lucinda Mary Turnbull Officer of the Order of Australia, AO (née Hughes; born 30 March 1958) is an Australian businesswoman, philanthropist, and former Local government in Australia, local government politician. She served on the Sydney City ...
was appointed an officer of the order before her husband became prime minister. Tamie Fraser was the first spouse of a prime minister to be provided with an official secretary for dealing with her correspondence.


List of spouses or partners


Living spouses of former prime ministers

There are currently seven living spouses of former prime ministers of Australia: The most recent spouse of an Australian prime minister to die was
Hazel Hawke Hazel Susan Hawke, AO (née Masterson, 20 July 192923 May 2013) was the first wife of Bob Hawke, the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia. She married him in 1956, and supported him throughout his prime ministership (1983–1991); they divorced in ...
(ex-wife of
Bob Hawke Robert James Lee Hawke (9 December 1929 – 16 May 2019) was an Australian politician and union organiser who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (A ...
), on 23 May 2013.


Others

A number of prime ministers have remarried after leaving office or had marriages that ended before taking office. *
Billy Hughes William Morris Hughes (25 September 1862 – 28 October 1952) was an Australian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Australia, in office from 1915 to 1923. He is best known for leading the country during World War I, but ...
was in a
common-law marriage Common-law marriage, also known as non-ceremonial marriage, marriage, informal marriage, or marriage by habit and repute, is a legal framework where a couple may be considered married without having formally registered their relation as a civil ...
with Elizabeth Cutts from approximately 1890 to her death in 1906. He had six children with her, and also raised her son from a previous relationship. *
Chris Watson John Christian Watson (born Johan Cristian Tanck; 9 April 186718 November 1941) was an Australian politician who served as the third prime minister of Australia, in office from 27 April to 18 August 1904. He served as the inaugural federal lead ...
married Antonia Dowlan in 1925, following the death of his first wife Ada in 1921. They had one daughter together. *
Earle Page Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page (8 August 188020 December 1961) was an Australian surgeon and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Australia, holding office for 19 days after the death of Joseph Lyons in 1939. He was the leade ...
married Jean Thomas in 1959, following the death of his first wife Ethel in 1958. She had previously been his personal secretary. *
John McEwen Sir John McEwen, (29 March 1900 – 20 November 1980) was an Australian politician who served as the 18th prime minister of Australia, holding office from 1967 to 1968 in a caretaker capacity after the disappearance of Harold Holt. He was the ...
married Annie McLeod in 1921; she died in 1967, ten months before he became prime minister. He remarried in 1968 to Mary Byrne, who had previously been his personal secretary. *
John Gorton Sir John Grey Gorton (9 September 1911 – 19 May 2002) was an Australian politician who served as the nineteenth Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1968 to 1971. He led the Liberal Party during that time, having previously been a l ...
married Nancy Home in 1993, following the death of his first wife Bettina in 1983. *
Bob Hawke Robert James Lee Hawke (9 December 1929 – 16 May 2019) was an Australian politician and union organiser who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (A ...
married
Blanche d'Alpuget Josephine Blanche d'Alpuget (born 3 January 1944) is an Australian writer and the second wife of Bob Hawke, the longest-serving Labor Prime Minister of Australia. Background and early career D'Alpuget is the only child of Josephine Curgenven a ...
in 1996, after divorcing his first wife Hazel in 1994. D'Alpuget had previously been his biographer. *
Paul Keating Paul John Keating (born 18 January 1944) is an Australian former politician and unionist who served as the 24th prime minister of Australia from 1991 to 1996, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He previously serv ...
divorced
Annita Keating Anna Johanna Maria "Annita" van Iersel (born 5 October 1948), known as Annita Keating from 1975 to 1998, is a Dutch-born Australian artist and former wife of Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia. Early life Born in Oisterwijk, Nor ...
after leaving office. He has not remarried, though his domestic partner since 1998 has been
Julieanne Newbould Julieanne Newbould (born 1957) is an Australian actress who first came to prominence in the 1970s. Newbould was 16 years old when she played Karen in the 1974 ABC telemovie ''Lindsay’s Boy''. She then worked in several television series for t ...
. *
Anthony Albanese Anthony Norman Albanese ( or ; born 2 March 1963) is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) since 2019 and the member of parlia ...
is the first prime minister to have been divorced before being appointed, having previously been married to
Carmel Tebbutt Carmel Mary Tebbutt (born 22 January 1964) is an Australian former politician. She was the Labor Party Member for the former seat of Marrickville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly until the 2015 election and was Deputy Premier of New ...
from 2000 until 2019.


See also

* List of prime ministers of Australia *
List of prime ministers of Australia by time in office This is a list of prime ministers of Australia by time in office. The basis of the list is the inclusive number of days from being sworn in until leaving office, if counted by number of calendar days all the figures would be one greater. Rank by ...
*
First Lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...
* Viceregal consort of Australia


Notes


References


Further reading

* * {{First Ladies and Gentlemen Prime Minister of Australia Spouses of the Prime Minister
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...